School Safety Law Blog – Page 103 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for May 22, 2015

by Bernie James • May 22, 2015

In 2013-14, 70 percent of schools surveyed by the U.S. Department of Education reported drilling students on a written plan for school shootings. More schools reported training students for active shooter situations and using security cameras, electronic notification systems, and anonymous reporting tools.

In a rebuke to restorative justice policies, Madison, Wisconsin school officials are revising the district’s new student discipline policy after a survey indicated most teachers believe student behavior has not improved and learning in the classroom has been affected. One Madison middle school teacher says discipline policy problems forced her to resign.

In Florida, Miami-Dade school officials decline to provide records on school safety procedures after student survey suggests that safety policies are not enforced.

In Oklahoma, the governor has signed a new law that gives school boards the right to designate teachers and school staff to carry handguns on school premises, as long as they’ve undergone armed security guard or reserve peace officer training.

by Bernie James • May 22, 2015

In 2013-14, 70 percent of schools surveyed by the U.S. Department of Education reported drilling students on a written plan for school shootings. More schools reported training students for active shooter situations and using security cameras, electronic notification systems, and anonymous reporting tools.

In a rebuke to restorative justice policies, Madison, Wisconsin school officials are revising the district’s new student discipline policy after a survey indicated most teachers believe student behavior has not improved and learning in the classroom has been affected. One Madison middle school teacher says discipline policy problems forced her to resign.

In Florida, Miami-Dade school officials decline to provide records on school safety procedures after student survey suggests that safety policies are not enforced.

In Oklahoma, the governor has signed a new law that gives school boards the right to designate teachers and school staff to carry handguns on school premises, as long as they’ve undergone armed security guard or reserve peace officer training.

by Bernie James • May 14, 2015

In Arkansas, the Governor has sign into law HB 1583, legislation that extends the jurisdiction of a school resource officer. Now the SRO will have statewide jurisdiction when accompanying students on a school sanctioned event that takes place outside the county in which the school is located.

In Idaho, HB 246 has passed that is designed to curb bullying and cyberbullying in Idaho schools. Data showed that one in 10 students have either switched schools or dropped out due to bullying. Under the law, schools are required to train teachers to deal with bullying and require them to intervene when they see it happen. School districts will have to make a yearly report on bullying incidents.

In Massachusetts, the Plymouth School Board formally paid tribute to police and firefighters in ensuring safety with plaques recognizing the professional and collegial relationship fostered between the departments in recent years.

In North Carolina, the Center for Safer Schools released its 2015 North Carolina School Resource Officer Report. The Report compiles data on the growth of the school resource officer program in the state and contains a survey of the responses of SROs on the scope of their work in maintaining safe campuses.

by Bernie James • May 5, 2015

In Texas, the McAllen Independent School District has implemented a new cloud-based online program to provide an all-around view of security. The software maintains school safety data, emergency plans, contact information, and compiles potential threats. McAllen’s school police department will have access to the information.

A report released by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics found that 6 percent of female teachers and 4 percent of male teachers surveyed said they had been physically attacked by a student during the 2011-2012 school year. This is the highest rate of teacher victimization ever reported.

In Texas, DeKalb School officials are praising the use of social networking as the reason for averting a crisis when a student brought a fully loaded handgun to school. An exchange on Snap Chat led the school’s resource officer to the student.

In Phoenix Arizona, the Cactus View Elementary School “The Bully Patrol Squad” is celebrating its third successful year in the fight against bullying. The program uses students to raise awareness and patrol the campus.

by Bernie James • April 28, 2015

In Colorado, the legislature is pushing back at restorative justice policies by introducing legislation (Senate Bill 213) that imposes a duty of reasonable care on educators, eliminating governmental immunity from lawsuits. Victims of campus injuries can sue for negligence and claim damages up to $350,000 a person. The bill is named for Claire Davis, who was killed at Arapahoe High School in 2013. She was shot by a fellow student who then turned the gun on himself.

“After School App” is a messaging platform for students where they can post anything school or non-school related, within their high school’s closed network. The posts show up on the app anonymously. Every post is reviewed by a human before being seen by the community. If the post indicates concerning behavior, a message will be sent offering help to the student.

In Texas, legislators passed a law to help root out bullying and cyberbullying in schools. But educators and experts on the law say that social media is magnifying the problem.

In South Carolina, Chester County’s sheriff is concerned after a decision from the school superintendent to replace school resource officers with private security guards who are not active law enforcement officers.

by Bernie James • April 14, 2015

In Elmira, New York, parents are now pushing back after a rash of violence in Elmira’s secondary schools. The backlash is directed at restorative justice policies and dissatisfaction with school system response to an increase in violence.

In Illinois the East Aurora School Board unanimously approved hiring additional staff members for school safety. Teachers reported that they were feeling powerless when asking students to move along and get to class and they’re met with disrespect and vulgar obscenities.

In Alabama, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the county school district have teamed up to establish the ‘Safe 2 Tell’ tip line on which anyone can report incidents in the schools. The tip line will be monitored by sheriff’s deputies; they will forward information to the school resource officer at the school.

In South Carolina, school officials in Murrells Inlet are installing security booths at each of their four high schools. When completed, the SRO will be the first point of contact when a car approaches the campus.